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Photography Question 

Tanya Harmon
 

How to focus up close


I am BRAND NEW at photography. I just received my Canon in the mail and wanted to try and get an extreme close pic of a beautiful flower in my backyard. Every time I tried to get close, it would not focus. Just blurry. I had to back up to get in focus which defeated the extreme close pic I wanted of the flower. Can anyone help me figure this out? I have a Canon EOS Rebel T6 with the EFS 18-55mm lens. I also have a 75-300mm lens.


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June 21, 2017

 
- Usman M. Bajwa

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  The kit lens is not made to focus objects really close. If you want to get really close to the objects, you need to buy a macro lens. I suggest you read some articles on macro photography so that you are able to choose the 'right' macro for your needs.

Other gear that will allow you to focus extreme close up are the reversing rings, but they are tedious to work with and require a lot of patience and requires a tripod. But since you are starting in photography, I would say first try the macro.


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June 22, 2017

 
christinegreenspanphotos.com - Christine Greenspan

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  Hi Tanya,
When I first started photography, I read a ton of books and took online classes here at BP. One book, by BP founder and owner Jim Miotke, really helped with closeup, and everything else. It's The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Nature Photography. There's a whole section on macro, including gear. Hope this helps!


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June 22, 2017

 

Tanya Harmon
  Thank you, both, for your quick response. Very helpful! I am taking the Better Photo 101 course soon, but more courses on my list.


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June 22, 2017

 
- Claudine Grove

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  another option is to use the bigger zoom lens. Back up from the flower till it will focus, then use the zoom to get in closer.


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June 23, 2017

 
- Bojan Bencic

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  Macro lens is your best choice but quality lens can cost a lot.
If you want to use the lens you already have you can use much cheaper extension tubes. Canon makes 12 mm and 25 mm (recommended) extension tubes. Extension tube moves your lens further from the camera and thus allow a lens to focus closer than it does natively.


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June 23, 2017

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  Welcome to the world Tanya. You're about to do what everybody that's loved photography and finally got their own "good camera" has done. Get a camera-This is what I want to do-Try it-Ask why isn't this coming out right?
Don't hesitate to ask. Anywhere. Anybody.
You want really close photos of flowers, you do need either a macro lens or something that allows close focusing. Closer than the two lenses you have now. The suggestions you've already been given will allow closer shots, but they have drawbacks.
Reversing rings allow you to fit your lens on backwards to the camera which essentially turns it into a macro lens. Drawback is I'm pretty sure you won't be able to adjust anything except shutter speed and iso to change the exposure. You won't be able to adjust the aperture. And it may be hard to find one that fits your camera.
Your other zoom lens isn't going to get you any significant amount in tighter because it has a minimum focusing distance like your 18-55. You'll find you have to back up more to get it in focus, and zoom in to get about the same image size.
Extension tubes can give you full use of exposure settings and auto focus if you use it (if it's compatible with the lens) but can cause some distortion around the edges of the frame. They also cut down on the light a little. They also decrease maximum focusing distance so it's something people only use for macro photos then take it off to go back to regular photos.
You may come across something called a close focusing lens. This is something that attaches to the front of your lens. Essentially like holding a magnifying glass in front of your lens (which I've tried) to get up close. Doubt you'll find any of these that will let you get something you'll be happy with. Only use one if you're going for a certain look because you will be able to notice a lack a sharpness.
Your most straightforward approach is a macro lens, and they do cost more than other lenses the same size. There are cheaper macro zoom lenses that you'll be able to get closer than your 75-300 zoom. But their optical quality isn't the same as a true macro like Canon's 100mm. And zoom macros get somewhere in between a regular zoom and a real macro as far as how close you can get.
So ask as much as you can, read up as much as you can, and don't forget to experiment as much as you can.


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July 02, 2017

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  And by the way. I said "good camera" because there's a saying that the best camera is the one you have with you. And also that whatever you have may be able to do what you need. So it's not always about the equipment. You may need more than a hammer to build a house, but the most expensive tools don't help you hit a nail on the head.


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July 02, 2017

 
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